Nigeria Police has confirmed that suspended officer Abba Kyari was still leading some of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) despite being on suspension.
Kyari was suspended by the Nigeria police after United States’ FBI indicted him in the fraud case of a popular fraudster, Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi in August 2021
United State authorities said Kyari was a conspirator with Hushpuppi in a $1.1 million deal to defraud a Qatari businessman.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba replaced Kyari with DCP Tunji Disu to head the IRT. Disu was commander of the Rapid Response Unit (RRS) in Lagos State.
Although Kyari was suspended pending the outcome of an investigating panel amid a request for his extradition to the U.S, the Nigeria police disclosed that the ‘celebrated super cop’ was still carrying out official duties, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who declared him wanted for drug trafficking.
NDLEA said “(Kyari) His team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia with, according to him, 25kg of cocaine” in January 2022 despite being suspended.
The police echoed NDLEA’s claim in a statement to announce Kyari’s arrest.
“It is to be emphasised that DCP Abba Kyari’s involvement in these allegation occurred while his suspension from service was subsisting,” Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said.
He said the IGP has ordered the transfer of Kyari and all the indicted police officers to the NDLEA authorities for conclusive investigation, while appropriate disciplinary actions are also being initiated against them by the Force leadership.
Kyari’s team, according to the police, includes ACP Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, ASP John Umoru (at large), Inspr. Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu.
Police spokesman disclosed that the IGP has formally requested that NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa should ensure the identification, arrest and investigation of NDLEA officers who have also been found to be colluding with the international drug cartel involved in the case towards advancing the anti-narcotics agenda of the Nigerian Government.
